Tuesday, August 12, 2008

I've been a Carlton fan ever since my friend Lauren introduced me to her music almost six years ago.

I was less enchanted by her more poppy, and more popular, songs, like "1000 Miles" and "Ordinary Day", and more lured toward her hauntingly gorgeous pieces like "Half A Week Before The Winter", and "Annie", but by far the two songs that stood out to me the most were "Wreckage" and "She Floats".

"She Floats" has an amazing backing piano, very subtle and haunting at first, building as the song goes on. In the middle of the song you hear a chorus break out into theses haunting screams. . .like a chorus of ghosts. The amazing thing about that chorus is that it isn't a chorus at all. It's Vanessa and her producer Stephan Jenkins, and no one else, tracked singing and screaming different notes hundreds of times. The after effect, a ghostly choir.

"Wreckage" just sang to me. . .the piano is amazing. Very classical, but still dark and rock. . .something that to this day I've only found Vanessa to pull off. The lyrics are sad, the song as a whole has the beautiful tragedy feel to it. There's a very poetic side to her lyrics both in this song and in "She Floats". I know I've cried a few times when listening to it. Her vocals are better in this song than in any other of her songs I think. There's a clarity to them that she doesn't bring in other pieces. It's really just an amazing piece!

I'm going to post both songs tonight, 'cause I would never be able to choose between these two wonderful songs. Neither of them have music videos, just pictures of Vanessa.

Enjoy!

She Floats-Vanessa Carlton

Watching puddles gather rainThere's no better place to layAnd she's as fine as dandelions blowin' in the windShe's not thinkin' 'bout anythingShe Floats

She floatsFloats

Wearin' black patent Mary JanesShe steps out into the rainBut she's as dry as clear blue skys swallowing you wholeGot no secretsthough I'm told she floats

She floatsFloats

MmmAhMmmAh

["Choir"]

'Cause she's as fine as dandelions blowing in the windShe's not thinkin' she's listening

She floatsShe floatsFloatsFloatsShe FloatsShe FloatsFloats

Wreckage-Vanessa Carlton

SpeedingInto the horizonDreaming of the sirenWishing for her broken glass on the highwayIt could be so easy

The rhythmRhythm of an engineAlways makes me emptyI see the headlights coming at meI can't help but wonder

FlyingFlying in slow motionWind through my hairAnd ripping through the scenery, oh, the wreckageIt is my secret need

SpeedingInto the horizonDreaming of the sirenWishing for her broken glass on the highwayIt could be so easy..

4
comments:

Ooooh. Vanessa Carlton!I listened to A Thousand Miles and Ordinary Day and loved the lyrics, but never really enjoyed the pop-y sound.I love these lyrics you've posted here, too; I'll have to take a listen to some of her not-so-peppy tunes.Sometime, when it's not half-past-one-in-the-morning, lol ;)

Oh wow.Never on my life would I have expected something like that from Vanessa Carton.Never would I have guessed that the same person who sang [i]A Thousand Miles[/i] - so sweet, innocent, not many chances taken - could have sang these songs!I have to say I'm still not a huge fan of her voice; but [i]wow![/i]I'm completelly surprised lol

Future Reviews:

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- Mott The Hoople's song, All The Young Dudes

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